Tag Archive | Rachels Random Resources

The House Of Light & Shadows by Lauren Westwood

Feb22

Waiting For Kintsugi

The House Of Light And Shadows by Lauren Westwood is a powerful contemporary novel that consumed me from the start.

The novel is set in two time periods – present day and the late nineteenth century as we ‘hear’ via a voice in the past what has happened.

An old house links the two time periods, as does a character trapped in time and space. The past is gone but lives on in hearts full of guilt and regret.

In both time periods there are estranged sisters. Words spoken in hurt and anger have done irreparable damage. Characters need to put aside their differences and unite in love before it is too late.

A character is re-living the past, preventing her from living in the present. “The past can’t be recovered… But don’t lose any more time. Stop hurting and start living.”

A phone call out of the blue offers a second chance – but is it too little, too late?

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The Woven Lie by Liz Harris

Feb19

Cosy Crime

The Woven Lie by Liz Harris is a light-hearted historical cosy crime novel that entertained me from the start. It is the third book in The Three Sisters series but can be read as a stand-alone.

The action takes place in a village in Suffolk in 1948 as we join a young woman who has a new job in charge of a local museum.

We witness the passion for the ancient artefacts. We also witness her naivety as she learns on the job and is far too trusting.

Greed is a terrible master. There is sure to be a downfall when greed motivates actions.

The rural setting introduces the reader to a close-knit community where not everyone is quite as they seem.

Times are changing as we move away from the war years. 1948 saw the birth of the NHS. We follow characters who are implementing those changes.

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New Arrivals On West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva

Feb16

Community Cohesion

New Arrivals On West India Dock Road by Renita D’Silva is a powerful, heartfelt historical novel that I read in just one sitting. I am hoping there will be many more books to follow.

The tale is set just before the outbreak of World War II. We begin the novel in India in 1937, following a young girl who is employed as a nanny to two small boys, whose parents are English. Unrest in India sees the family boarding a ship to England as they make hollow promises to the nanny. Once on the shores of England, she is left to fend for herself.

The vibrancy of India contrasts with the greyness of England. “Everything is coated in a grey mist, a far cry from the ubiquitous orange dust of India.”

England is an inhospitable place for those whose skin colour is not white, and whose accent is not English.

As the streets of London are traversed, we move towards the docklands. Here, the streets are not paved with gold but the hearts are filled with love.

It is a very cosmopolitan area, populated by those whom society has marginalized – the Irish, African, India, Chinese and more. Here, the lost and lonely find a place to call home.

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The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner

Feb11

Across The Years

The Paris Dancer by Nicola Rayner is a fabulous dual timeline novel that I really enjoyed.

The action is set in Paris during World War II and in New York City in 2012. We hear the war years through the voice of a young girl and in the first person. In 2012 the action is seen through a great niece clearing out her great aunt’s apartment. It is in the third person. The chapters alternate. We hear the great aunt’s experiences through a notebook.

The novel is about loss. “The grief… feels as if it could drown her.” With loss comes guilt. Both lead characters are consumed. They need to learn to forgive themselves. “What if I don’t deserve to be forgiven?” Everyone deserves forgiveness. “We’re always toughest on ourselves… It’s easier to be nice to other people.” We need to extend grace to ourselves as well as others.

Some friendships bring out the best in each other. “My friendship… made me believe anything was possible.” Some people just spread joy wherever they go. “If you want to change the world… just make it a little more beautiful.”

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